Optimist to Pessimist.

[aikemirv]

I am usually an optimist regarding the Cowboys season but the events of the past 2 weeks have turned me towards the pessimist side and like I said very unusual for me.

Starting with the Burnett and Ellis injury, then the Newman injury, the cutting Glenn, then Terry Glenn not being ready.

I am not feeling so comfortable about the season at this point. Not a chicken little thread but I don't have a good feeling about this team at this point. I sure hope Romo and TO, Witten, Barber and Jones and Ware get me back to the positive side on Sunday night!

 

[superpunk]

<obligatory "Quit being such a chicken little, the coaching staff will take care of it" post>

 

[Hostile]

I am usually an optimist regarding the Cowboys season but the events of the past 2 weeks have turned me towards the pessimist side and like I said very unusual for me.

Starting with the Burnett and Ellis injury, then the Newman injury, the cutting Glenn, then Terry Glenn not being ready.

I am not feeling so comfortable about the season at this point. Not a chicken little thread but I don't have a good feeling about this team at this point. I sure hope Romo and TO, Witten, Barber and Jones and Ware get me back to the positive side on Sunday night!

It's weird aikemirv, because I am usually the exact opposite. I am a pessimest turned optimist this year.

I attribute most of it to two factors. I am comfortable with our starting QB for the first time in years. I really like this coaching staff. I feel the additions have been incredibly positive. As evidence I tout the complete lack of TO circus. I think Ray Sherman has been a great match for him. I completely respect Jason Garrett and Brian Stevens, and I think Sparano finally has an O-line to make something out of. I loved the hiring of John Garrett and Dat Nguyen. In fact the only complaint I have about the coaching staff is that I wish we had also hired Marco Rivera to eb an Assistant here for the OL.

I'm actually surprised at how giddy I am and how much I believe guys will be back and be a team that won't fade in December.

 

[Stash]

I can see your reasoning and I can agree somewhat.

The preseason started off well with the team looking good and players staying healthy.

Ellis' injury seemed to be the only one that could linger.

Within the past two weeks, the team stopped looking good in the preseason games and several players got nicked-up to varying degrees.

It does raise some questions.

But I'm remainining optimistic that these injuries are short-term and that this team is talented enough to overcome them.

 

[jazzcat22]

I am usually optimistic for the start of the season. Until the week before the game. I don't get pessimistic, so I'll say I get a little nervous. How will we perform. We seen and read so much about our team. But how many of us really pay attention to our opponent and their TC.

Then the day before the game, I get optimistic again.
I am ready, just get to Sunday night.

 

[CoCo]

I'm not pessimistic, but I am concerned.

But its a chance to see what kind of leadership there is on this team too. Its time to step up Cowboys.

Home game vs division opponent. Kind of need this one...

 

[Reality]

I am with Hostile on this .. This is the first year I feel real optimism for our chances.

It seems like for the last 8-10 years, our pattern has been .. start strong (usually a top offensive team), struggle through the middle of season still winning more than we lose usually, then the defense disappears and the team fades in December.

Good teams overcome injury.

I think Newman is a top-two cornerback in the league that never gets the recognition he deserves. However, Wade Phillips is not Bill Parcells when it comes to defense. Parcells let offenses dictate what he did on defense. Wade's defenses dictate to the offense what they will do. If Newman is out, the team will help his replacement and will use pressure in other areas to take the focus off of him.

As for cutting Aaron Glenn .. I am disappointed because the guy is smart and very crafty. That being said, he's old by football standards and is still short while the league's receivers continue to get taller and taller. I don't care how good of a cornerback you are, if you are covering someone who is 7-8 inches or more taller than you and they also have a much higher vertical jump, the best you can hope for are bad throws and containment (tackling immediately after the catch). Aaron was a really good tackler but you cannot let the receivers go down the field throwing the ball a foot higher for catches than your defender can jump.

Not having Ellis worries me the most but only for now. I believe that Spencer or another player will step up over the first few games and if Ellis does not return to play or the form he was in last year (doubtful this year anyway), he will no longer be an issue.

Terry Glenn is a great speed receiver with probably the best hands I have ever seen from a receiver, but I have full confidence in Crayton, Hurd, Witten and the running backs to compensate for him if he is unable to play.

I am really looking forward to this season!

-Reality

 

[big dog cowboy]

Don't worry be happy.

 

[Sasquatch]

I'm cautiously optimistic, but I think our success hinges on some crucial factors that are by no means a given at this point, including consistent play by the QB, OL, and defense putting pressure on opposing QBs. We'll find out soon enough.

 

[Zaxor]

I'm optimistic if we actually improved on the OLine

 

[CrazyCowboy]

Just looked and my glass is still 3 quarters full........going to the Super Bowl!

 

[Phoenix-Talon]

I can't speak for any other team but the Philadelphia Eagles. However, I think all team fans have their doubts about how well their respective teams will perform.

Like Hos and Reality said, optimism will prevail where pessimism once existed. There are going to be things that we'll all experience that we didn't expect. That's how things work in the NFL ...we all know that.

Remember that year (about 5 years ago) one NFC-East team loaded down for bear with key-playmakers and talent. Lesson learned ...they didn't play well together ...they didn't gel!

Keep in Mind this is an Eagle's Fan Perspective:

I feel slightly threatened by the 2007 Dallas Cowboys! Not because of all of the talent, but because the exisiting talent has been working together for at least 2-3 years as a cohesive solid unit. It gives me great displeasure to say that the Cowboys will compete on a high level as they have for the last 2-3 years.

The only comfort I have is that Wade Phillips doesn't appear to be the strong coach that BP was. I'll be watching that closely.

The Phoenix Talon

 

[Doomsday]

I'm optimistic if we actually improved on the OLine

I hope you are right they didnt look too improved vs Minnesota. I am hoping it was just rust because the Oline looked really good before Adams and Colombo came back from thier injuries

 

[TunaFan33]

Yeah, we may have a few issues, but last I checked, 90&#37; of the other teams have even more issues than us, frankly. Look at Indy-they lost half of their starters, including their LT(*ouch* Peyton will be running for his life now).

We are not THAT bad of a shape like we're making here on Zoners.

 

[blindzebra]

I'm optimistic if we actually improved on the OLine

Those are some really nice....ummm, mugs.

Oh, and I'm not backing off 13-3 and #6.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Short and sweet.

We saw flashes of dominance/greatness last year.

NOW we feel that Wade will get the D to shine and Garrett will get the O to become potent. We are banking on that.

 

[TunaFan33]

Seriously-how are our injuries now compared to previous years under Bill?

In '05-we lost our LT, WLB, Defensive Team Captain(Dat), RT, RG(was hobbling on a bad back all year), etc-but the big reason why we short-circuited was b/c of our sorry kicking game. Even a healthy Flo couldn't have saved it.

In '06-we lost Ellis, and other key guys(Ratliffe, Henry, Owens, etc) were hobbling at season's end. But that was absolutely no excuse to blow a 2 game NFCE lead with a month to go.

Frankly-"THE SKY IS FALLING!" isn't crossing my mind like 99&#37; of the Zoners here.

 

[Doomsday101]

I had high expectation for this team heading into this year and nothing has changed the high expectation.

 

[mmohican29]

well so long as PT feels "threatened", I guess our season is validated to date. (eyeroll).

Noone said it was going to be easy, but I def think we're in for some good things this season.

11-5, NFC Championship game is my prediction.

 

[Sarge]

I'm a pessimist and I feel pretty much the same as I did last year only minimally more optimistic as Manboobs is gone. I still have OL concerns. I think our RB's are just OK. I think our pass rush has not been improved at all from what I've seen and I fear that what New Orleans exposed last year may very well carry over to this year. I'm not sold on Romolio either.